April 1
Hockey star Sidney Crosby is reportedly in talks with the Port Adelaide Football Club to make a shock code switch.
After 15 seasons with the Pittsburgh Penguins and some heroic moments for the Canadian men’s hockey team, Crosby said he was looking forward to his new “Aussie Rules adventure”.
“I’m excited to trade in the fastest sport on ice for the fastest sport on grass,” Crosby said.
“I had barely even heard of Aussie Rules before. I’d always just thought it was rugby. But after I saw it on Pat McAfee, I knew this was the sport for me. The fast-flowing play, the long kicks, the crazy catches; I knew I had to try it.
"The NHL and AFL seasons are almost opposites, so I'll still be able to pick up a few games for the Penguins in the offseason, too."
Port Adelaide recruitment manager April Fullingham said the club was excited about what Crosby could bring to the team.
“You don’t get to be the NHL’s ‘most complete player’ without a full skillset,” Fullingham said.
“Crosby’s pure athleticism and hand-eye coordination are a great base, but he’s sent us a few demo videos and we like what we’ve seen so far.
“We’ll likely start him in the mid-field, but don’t be surprised if you see him down forward for a few sneaky goals.”
Crosby is set to return to his roots in Nova Scotia where he will hone his skills with the Halifax Dockers, before making the move to Adelaide for the 2021 AFL season.
Cody Royle, coach of the Canadian men’s Australian rules football team, was excited at the prospect of Crosby playing on the national side.
“He’s Canadian through and through,” Royle said.
“With what he’ll learn in the AFL, he’ll undoubtedly be a great asset for the Northwind.”
Last Modified on 01/04/2020 21:16